Can you survive pneumonia with no spleen?
The spleen is an important organ associated with various immune functions. There is a growing body of evidence that people without a spleen are particularly susceptible to various overwhelming infections including pneumonia, which carries a high mortality rate.
Are Asplenic patients immunocompromised?
7,8 Patients who have had a splenectomy or have functional asplenia are immunocompromised and are at increased risk for severe and overwhelming bacterial infections, particularly from encapsulated bacteria.
Why is a splenectomy patient more prone to infection?
Splenectomized patients are a significant infection risk, because the spleen is the largest accumulation of lymphoid tissue in the body [1]. The spleen has an abundance of lymphoid tissue, including splenic macrophages that attack encapsulated organisms.
What is the most common complication of splenectomy?
Infections, particularly pulmonary and abdominal sepsis, constitute the majority of the complications. The mortality rate from postoperative sepsis is substantial. Atelectasis, pancreatitis/fistula, pulmonary embolism and bleeding at the operative site are also relatively common occurrences following splenic removal.
Can you fight infection without a spleen?
Some fight infections indirectly, by assisting the direct fighters or by producing antibodies that mark pathogens for destruction by other white blood cells. Fortunately for people who do not have a spleen, the body has other lymphoid tissues containing white blood cells, such as lymph nodes.
Do you still have to wait 15 minutes after vaccine?
After the vaccination You may be asked to wait for 15 minutes after having the vaccination. This is in the unlikely event you have a serious reaction to the vaccine. Research has found it’s very rare to have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine. If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes.
What diseases are considered immunocompromised?
What Does Immunocompromised Mean?
- Chronic diseases. Certain conditions, such as HIV and AIDS, destroy immune cells, leaving your body vulnerable to other attacks.
- Medical treatments. Some cancer treatments weaken your immune system as they destroy cancer cells.
- Organ or bone marrow transplant.
- Age.
- Smoking.
Which organism causes infection after splenectomy?
Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection is usually caused by the encapsulated bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis and more than half of those infected die.
What can cause severe sepsis in a patient with asplenia?
Sepsis in asplenic patients is more likely to be caused by encapsulated organisms as they are more resilient to phagocytosis. The most dreadful complication of splenectomy is overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates.
What is post-splenectomy sepsis?
The major long-term complication of splenectomy is OPSI, also known as post-splenectomy sepsis syndrome, which is defined as a generalized non-specific flu-like prodrome followed by rapid deterioration to full-blown fulminant septic shock within 24-48 hours of the onset [9].
Is there an increased risk for infection after the removal of the spleen?
After splenectomy, other organs in your body take over most of the functions previously performed by your spleen. You can be active without a spleen, but you’re at increased risk of becoming sick or getting serious infections. This risk is highest shortly after surgery.